Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska, which is something politicians simply do not do. Even Sanford in South Carolina and Blago in Illinois refused to do it. And Palin has not even been found to have done ANYTHING "wrong". I don't fault Palin for resigning.
She is not a wealthy woman. Obama could "cash in" while still in Congress, and even while n the state senate in Illinois, without affecting his "job". Not only was he not in an executive position, but he was teh darling of the media. Further, he had powerful friends, and there was literally NO "pressure" on him. he could write books, and neglect his "duties" by running for President as soon as he was a Senator, and no one was going to say anything derogatory about it. He had no reason to resign from the Senate to run for President.
Contrast that with Sarah Palin. She is in debt because of the relentless campaign against ther. The left still seems scared to death of her as the only "charismatic" figure the Republicans have (caveat: see title, and below). The attacks were just never going to stop. We are in a recession. Things are tough for governors everywhere. And Pallin was stuck in Alaska--unable to make "news" except by RESPONDING to attacks by David Letterman, and the partisans on the left. It was a totally thankless job. The Republican establishment even has out the "long knives" for her, including the old McCain campaign (maybe McCain himself, who has done little to supoport her against attacks from his camp). Nope. I don't fault her for resigning.
Her book deal was just going to create another focus for, and reason for, more attacks upon Palin. At least if she is not governor, Plain gets out from under "ethics" rules, and is free to take on her critics without being vulnerable stuck up there as governor of Alaska. Palin had no good options, and I belive resigning was the best choice out of a number of bad ones. The left succeeded in putting Palin in that postion mainly BECAUSE of the Republican sabotage of Palin, and this is simply another thing for which I will not forgive the Republican "establishment". As I have said repeatedly, no member of the present Repubican "establishment" will get my vote until Hell freezes over, and probably not then. I am far from the onlly person who feels that way. AND THIS INCLUDES PEOPLE LIKE NEWT GINGRICH--DESPITE MY FOND MEMORIES OF 1994.
What is the downside of the resignation? The upside is that it is better than all of the alternatives. For Palin to just sit in Alaska, as a clay pigeon taking shotgun blasts from all sides, was not a realistic option. The downside is that Plain pretty well takes herelf out of the picture for 2012, although not for the reason you might think..
It is NOT because she has exposed herself as a "quitter". She can use her charisma to pretty much destory that "charge" between now and 2012, by going out in the country and fighting for conservative principles in a way she never could stuck up there as governor of Alaska. That might have worked if Palin had a chance, like Obama, to ptretty much let the state run itself, and be a Presidential candidate more than governor. Unlike Obama, Palin did not have that option, and little chance of Democrats or Republicans, letting her quietly build a record as governor (if she tired to take that route).
No, Sarah Palin has taken the most aggressive action she can take, and that is not the action of a "quitter". She can now take her "message" across the country, AND build up an Obama type personal wealth war chest, along with an on-the-ground oranization in all of the states.
Problem: Plain is left wih NO real experience. She will not even have a complete term as governor on her resume. As far as I am concerned, that was NOT much a negative running for VICE President. Despite the hypocrites on the left--the worst hypocrites who have ever walked the Earth on two legs--"expereince" is not much of a requirement for a VICE President--unless the President has none, as with Obama. McCain had all of the experience anyone needed. Can "charisma" make up for lack of experience running for President? Obama proved that it can, but is not that the problem?
Republicans are not going to beat Obama is he is seen as a SUCCESSFUL President in 2012 (which I find hard to believe, but the Soviet Union did take 45 years or so to collapse after establishing its empire at the end of World War II). The bib problem for Palin is that Obama may (for the moment) CURE us of the idea that charisma is enough. How does Palin come across as the alternative to the ruin an inexperienced, charismatic Obama has brought to the country? IF she can get the nominatin, she might be able to win the election. But how can she get the nomination? Will not people react to Obama by wanting a solid, EXPERIENCED guy--someone like Mitt Romney?
That is the real danger for Palin, and why I think her resignation has made it pretty much impossible for her to get the onomiation in 2012. Obama, by then, will have "cured" us from "charisma" as a "qualification" to be President. If he does not, then he will be unbeatable himself (which might be Palin's best chance for the nomination, since an unbeatable Oama may cause Republicans to turn to the crarismatic Palin in desperation).
Would I vote for Mitt Romney? I thik so, even though he really is an "establishment" Republican. But the "establishment" Republicans threw Romeny under the bus, and that may put him enough on "our" side (the non-establishment conservatives). Romney, however, will suffer the temptation to let the Republican "establishment"--perhaps acting in fear of Plain--co-opt Romney back into their ranks on their terms. I don't trust Romeny that much. He has shown an opportunistic streak before. If Romeny seeks the approval of these people by tracking back to the left, it would be too mcuh for me (and, I believe, a lot of conservatives). I am hopeful Romney realizes that he has burned his bridges, and has to stay n the conservative side (even if his principles are not that strongly felt). Romney has already gone through an entire campaing talking like a conservative. It should not be difficult to do it again. However, I am not that enamored of what Romney has said about bailouts and the rest, and I can easily see opposing both Romney and Obama. I can just as easily see supporting Romney. It is up to him
If you get the feeling that I am waiting for a Reagan-like superhero to rise and save the day, you are right. You are also right that I do not see either Palin or Romney in that role, although I could easily support either of them. Romney would certainly be a "steady", economically experienced alternative to Obama. The problem is that I sse NO Repubican superhero out there (mcuh like I see no real quality team in the NL Central Division). Will a Bill Clinton rise out of obscurity? I see no such figure right now. However, we are an eternity away from 2012, and it is obvious that the Republican nominatin is there for the taking for any figure that can rise to the occasion. I see no real "frontrunner" at this stage. Palin is certainly not in that category, after this resignationi.
Even if Palin were to gradually fade out of the picture, perhaps because Obama gives inexperienced "charisma" a bad name, we owe her a lot. Among other things, she showed that Republicans do not have to be DULL (even though I have long said that is what I aspire to be). Ronald Reagan proved that, but he was fast seeming the exception that proved the rule.
The maint thing we owe Sarah Palin, however, is her exposure of "feminism" for the fraud it is. I am not talking abut real "femiism", whatever that is. I am talking about the political "feminism" of the left. In combination with Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin established ME as a better "feminist" than the political feminists of the left. She exposed leftist feminists as LEFTISTS first, and feminists a distant second. And Palin is still doing that. Ask David Letterman and "slutty flight attendants". We owe Palin a debt of gratitude for exposing the vast HYPOCRISY of the left--whther the Democratic left or the Repubican left. Palin exposed what these people rally think of ordinary Americans, including women, who are not part of their elitist circles and "thought".
If Sarah Palin did not exist, we would have had to invent her. That is why I refuse to count her out, despite the above. A superheroine would be acceptable to me to replace Ronald Reagan. I just know we need SOMEBODY, and I don't see that somebody out there right now.
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